Hard Rock Cafe’s Battle Of The Bands Winner Profile: Zedde (Mumbai)

Mumbai-based hard rock band Zedde were adjudged regional finalists from the city for the Hard Rock Rising India Battle of the Bands competition.The three-year-old band has performed at various college festivals and won the Asian Anthem of the Year at AVIMA 2010, besides winning the Best Band via ArtistAloud.com for their 2010 single, “Mumbai.”

Zedde is made up of guitarist Claver Menezes (ex Rust Angels), vocalist 2Blue (ex Vayu), drummer Trevor Berchman (ex Rust Angels) and bassist Deepu Saikia (he also plays with Papon). “We joined forces in 2008,” explains 2Blue, “We were hungry to play music the way we wanted to play, which is hard rock. Coming together was the best decision we ever made.”

What sets them apart from other bands? “We’re glad we made it this far. But to be very candid with you, each member of the band has judged countless band competitions in the past. We’re a lot older than the other bands. So, someone had to show them how real men play. Someone had to tell them that while they were busy wanking, we were busy f**king.”

 2Blue is definitely confident about Zedde’s future: “Our chances of winning? Just wait for the headline “Zedde ”” Live atHyde Park.” 

Hard Rock Cafe’s Battle Of The Bands now has five winners. These five winning bands from India – Zedde (Mumbai), 83 mph (Bengaluru), Franks Got The Funk (Hyderabad), The Urban early Men (Delhi) and Point Blanc (Pune) – now compete (via fan voting) with other winning bands from across the world. The eventual winner of the Battle of The Bands contest will perform at the Hard Rock Rising 2012 festival in London’s Hyde Park, headlined by Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band. 

To vote for your favourite band, go to the Hard Rock Cafe’s Facebook pages for each city – Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi.

Voting is open from April 9 to 24.

(Interviewed by Vyoma Shah)